Broadband probes for impedance tuners

ABSTRACT

A multi-section probe and a tapered probe for impedance tuners to broaden the band width of the probes and hence the band width of the tuners. Each section of the multi-section probe has a nominal length equal to one quarter wavelength at a midpoint of the operating band. The tapered probe has a length equivalent to a plurality of one quarter wavelengths of the frequency midpoint. The multi-section probe and the tapered probe are configured to transform the characteristic impedance of the tuner transmission line step-by-step or continuously to a target impedance value.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical impedance tuners use probes to simulate impedance values for various microwave and RF measurements such as load pull or source pull measurements or noise parameter measurements. The transmission line of the tuner may be a slab line. The probes are movable in a direction transverse to the center conductor of the transmission line of the tuner, and also in a direction along the center conductor. As the probe moves closer to the center conductor, the impedance mismatch increases, while the mismatch decreases as the probe is moved away from the center conductor. The probes can generate high reflections and act to transform the characteristic impedance of the slab line to other impedance values. A major shortcoming is, as is known to microwave engineers, the narrow band of these probes.

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,589,601 describes multi-section probes, in which the sections are separated by gaps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric cutaway view of an automated tuner with a moving carriage and a probe.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of an impedance tuner with a multi-section probe.

FIG. 3A is a cutaway side view of an impedance tuner with an alternate embodiment of a multi-section probe. FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the impedance tuner and probes of FIG. 3A, showing that the trough of each probe section is different from the trough of the other probe sections. FIG. 3C is a diagrammatic end view, illustrating the probe section trough widening and change in the cross-sectional profile of the respective probe sections.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a tapered probe with a straight taper angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically depicts an exemplary embodiment of an automated, slab line tuner system 10. In this embodiment, a base plate 12, an end plate 14 and planar conductor slabs 18, 20 are fabricated of a metal or metalized dielectric material. A center conductor 16 is supported between the slabs 18, 20, and by a coaxial connector (not visible in FIG. 1) fitted into the end wall 14. An electrically conductive probe 22 is mounted on a carriage 24 for motion transverse to the center conductor axis. A probe motor 26 drives the probe 22 along the transverse path toward or away from the center conductor axis. The carriage is driven along a path parallel to the center conductor axis, by a leadscrew 30 driven by a carriage drive motor 28. In an exemplary embodiment, moving the carriage primarily results in changing the phase of the reflection, and moving the probe vertically (transversely) primarily changes the magnitude of the reflection; hence together (horizontal and vertical movements) change the impedance presented at the reference plane (usually the end of a connector at the end of the center conductor) by the tuner. Exemplary slab line impedance tuners are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,589,601; 8,823,392; and 8,907,750, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.

In microwave and RF circuits, a multi-section quarter wave transformer has been used to generate wide band quarter wave transformers for microstrip or coaxial lines. These multi-section transformers can be designed in most case either using the maximally flat filter response or Chebyshev filter response. Quarter wave transformers are described, for example, in “Microwave Engineering,” Second Edition, David M. Pozar, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1998, at Chapters 5.4 to 5.8, pages 271-295 (hereinafter referred to as “Pozar”).

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, instead of using one section of a probe in a mechanical impedance tuner to transform the characteristic impedance of the main line, to a very low or very high impedance value in one step, the characteristic impedance is transformed step-by-step or probe section by probe section using a plurality of adjacent probe sections to intermediate impedance values to reach finally the target impedance value. This method, if done properly, widens the bandwidth significantly, in fact arbitrarily depending on the number of sections; see, e.g. Pozar at pages 277-278. How to calculate how many sections are needed for a desired bandwidth and the varying impedance values is explained in the literature, e.g. Pozar at page 278-286.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, multi-section probes are described for use in impedance tuners, wherein each probe section corresponds to a particular impedance value for the transmission line. There are different methods of realizing such multi-section probes. In one embodiment, the same probe section is used several times as needed for the desired broad bandwidth, with the probe sections positioned next to each other but at stepped heights relative to the center conductor of the slab line. In this example, the impedance value is at a given height or vertical position of the probe in relation to the slab line center conductor. An example is illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the probe 22 includes three probe sections 22A, 22B and 22C, with each probe section having a length equal to one quarter wavelength at the center frequency of the band. The probe sections are mounted together in a fixed relationship, and fitted to a probe drive (not shown in FIG. 2) for movement in a ganged relationship toward or away from the center conductor. The probe sections may be attached to a probe bracket 22D, for example, which is connected to the probe drive by a post structure 22E. The probe sections could also be fabricated as an integral one-piece structure, instead of several separately constructed sections assembled together.

An exemplary design technique for designing a multi-section probe is as follows:

1. Determine the desired specifications as to what maximum reflection, e.g., 0.9 reflection magnitude, is needed in which characteristic impedance environment, e.g., 50 ohm, and the desired bandwidth, e.g. between 0.65 and 9 GHz, along with the desired reflection magnitude Γ_(m) at the band edges, e.g., 0.82 reflection magnitude. This will also fix the center frequency of the design and the length of each probe section as quarter wave length at the center frequency, e.g. 4.825 GHz in the above example.

2. For each type of design, Chebyshev or binomial (maximally flat), determine the design constants and number of sections needed:

-   -   Estimate initially the number of sections N. Then estimate the         constant A=2^(−(N+1))ln(R_(L)/Z₀) where R_(L) is the low         impedance target and Z0 is the characteristic impedance of the         system, usually 50 ohm. Then, using the reflection Γ_(m) needed         at the band edge, calculate the bandwidth using         Δf=2f₀−4f₀/πarccos [½(Γ_(m)/|A|)^(1/N)] where f₀ is the center         (design) frequency of the probe. If the bandwidth is acceptable,         continue, if it is too narrow or too wide, re-estimate the         number of sections and repeat iteratively until a satisfactory         bandwidth is obtained and the number of sections N is then         determined.

3. Once the number of sections N is determined, then determine the required characteristic impedance value for each section, using the following:

-   -   Estimate the marginal reflection coefficients Γ_(n)=AN!/(N−n)!n!         and then determine the characteristic impedance of each section         iteratively by Z_(n+1)=Z_(n)e^(2Γ) ^(n) starting with the 50         ohm/Z₀ load.

4. Estimate the height of each section above the center conductor to simulate the calculated characteristic impedance for that section. The height of each section in this context is the distance or gap between the center conductor and the top of the trough of the section. This step can typically be performed through the use of a full 3D electromagnetic field (EM) simulator such as HFSS (by ANSYS) or CST (marketed by Computer Simulation Technology), or any other full 3D electromagnetic simulator.

5. Once the height of each section is determined this way, in the final step, simulate the performance of the design of the whole probe using the 3D EM simulator to verify the broad band response and make the final tuning adjustments to the heights if further adjustments in heights are needed.

Another embodiment of a multi-section probe uses the same height for all sections but varies the cross-sectional profile (also known as the trough) to make the trough wider and wider for successive probe sections. The troughs are configured to allow the probe sections when brought closer to the center conductor to straddle the center conductor. In this case, the probe could be made as a single integrated probe, with the trough made wider and wider every one-quarter wavelength. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an exemplary multi-section probe 22′ using probe sections 22A′, 22B′, 22C′, which are mounted together at equal heights relative to the center conductor 18, but with different trough configurations. As with the probe 22 of FIG. 2, the multiple probe sections are mounted adjacent one another, and mounted for ganged movement (or made as a one single unitary structure). FIGS. 3B and 3C show that the trough of probe section 22B′ is wider than the trough of probe section 22A′, and that the trough of probe section 22C′ is wider than the trough of probe 22B′. Thus the probe sections have troughs each of which is wider than the previous adjacent probe section, with the characteristic impedance decreasing with each widening trough. The trough width corresponds to the impedance obtained using full 3D EM simulation.

Note that the probe bracket and post for connecting to the probe drive are omitted from FIGS. 3A-3C for clarity.

A further embodiment of the probe is a combination of the first two embodiments, i.e. a multi-section probe in which both the probe height and the trough profile vary, i.e. from probe section to probe section.

An even better but more difficult to realize probe design is to use a tapered quarter wave transformer instead of multi-section transformers. This tapered transformer has a continuous change of the impedance of the transformer instead of stepped change by multi-section transformer. Various methods such as exponential taper, triangular taper, Klopfenstein taper are used for different taper shapes and different applications. It is known that the Klopfenstein taper is the optimal taper shape for these types of quarter wave transformers. See, for example, Pozar at chapter 5.8, pages 288-295.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tapered probe 22″ with a trough 25. The height of the probe is tapered, increasing from a first end (left in FIG. 4) to the opposite end (right in FIG. 4). The probe 22″ will be mounted to the probe drive by a post (not shown in FIG. 4) such that the top surface is parallel to the center conductor.

Both techniques described above, i.e., the stepped height or varying trough shape, could be also used for the tapered probe, whether it is a triangular or exponential or Klopfenstein taper.

An exemplary sequence of steps to design a tapered probe is as follows:

1. Establish the required specifications for center frequency, bandwidth, desired reflection at center frequency and desired reflection at band edges

2. Estimate the needed length L of the tapered probe (the longer, the wider the band width). One can estimate this length from the multi section probe design (e.g., Chebyshev), so that the length of the tapered probe is equal to the sum of the lengths of the sections of the multi-section probe structure.

3. Determine the constants and the impedance profile for the probe from 0 up to the length L. This profile depends on the chosen taper style, exponential, triangular or Klopfenstein.

4. Once the impedance profile is determined, now one needs to estimate the probe profile. This is done by estimating the how much the probe height above center conductor corresponds to that impedance. This may be done using a 3D EM simulator such as HFSS or CST. The probe height for the entire probe is estimated, i.e. how the taper profile or taper height varies along the probe.

5. Simulate the probe performance using a 3D EM simulator. If necessary, the parameters might need to be adjusted or tuned such as probe length and probe height profile.

In a further embodiment, the tapered probe may incorporate both height tapering and trough profile tapering, i.e. both the height and the trough profile vary continuously along the probe length.

All these embodiments can be implemented with probes that touch the slab lines or that do not touch the slab lines.

Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A probe for a slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes, a probe carriage and a drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor, the probe comprising: a tapered electrically conductive probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor; wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor; and wherein the nominal length dimension is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously by the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
 6. The probe of claim 5, wherein the tapered probe has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe length from an initial height closest to the center conductor to a final height furthest away from the center conductor.
 7. The probe of claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tapered probe section is varied such that the trough becomes wider along the probe length from a first end of the probe to a second probe end.
 8. The probe of claim 5, wherein the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe length from an initial height closest to the center conductor to final height furthest away from the center conductor, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the probe section is varied such that the trough becomes wider along the probe length from a first end of the probe to a second probe end, and wherein the height is a measure of the distance from a top of the trough to the center conductor. 9-11. (canceled)
 12. A slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system comprising: a slab line transmission including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes; a probe; a probe carriage carrying the probe; a carriage drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor; a probe drive system for moving the probe in a transverse direction relative to the center conductor to position the probe closer to or further away from the center conductor; and wherein the probe includes: a tapered conductive probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the tapered probe has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor; wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor; and wherein the nominal length dimension is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously by the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
 13. The tuner system of claim 12, wherein the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe length from an initial height closest to the center conductor to final height furthest away from the center conductor.
 14. The probe of claim 12, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tapered probe section is varied such that the trough becomes wider along the probe length from a first end of the probe to a second probe end.
 15. The probe of claim 12, wherein the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe length from an initial height closest to the center conductor to final height furthest away from the center conductor, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tapered probe section is varied such that the trough becomes wider along the probe length from a first end of the probe to a second probe end, and wherein the height is a measure of the distance from a top of the trough to the center conductor.
 16. The probe of claim 5, wherein the nominal length dimension is equivalent to a plurality of one quarter wavelengths at a frequency at the midpoint of the frequency bandwidth.
 17. The probe of claim 5, wherein the tapered probe section comprises one of a triangular taper shape, an exponential taper shape or a Klopfenstein taper shape.
 18. The tuner system of claim 12, wherein the nominal length dimension is equivalent to a plurality of one quarter wavelengths at a frequency at the midpoint of the frequency bandwidth.
 19. The tuner system of claim 12, wherein the probe touches at least one of the opposed slab conductor planes.
 20. The tuner system of claim 12, wherein the probe does not touch the opposed slab conductor planes.
 21. The tuner system of claim 12, wherein the tapered probe section comprises one of a triangular taper shape, an exponential taper shape or a Klopfenstein taper shape.
 22. A probe for a slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes, a probe carriage and a drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor, the probe comprising: a tapered probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the taper is such that the characteristic impedance of the probe varies smoothly along the longitudinal direction from a first end of the probe section to a second end of the probe section; wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor; and wherein the length dimension of the probe section is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously along the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
 23. The probe of claim 22, wherein the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe section in a longitudinal direction from an initial height closest to the center conductor at the first end to a final height furthest away from the center conductor at the second end.
 24. The probe of claim 22, wherein the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor and wherein the cross-sectional profile varies such that the trough becomes continuously wider along the probe length in a longitudinal direction from the first end of the probe to the second end of the probe.
 25. The probe of claim 22, wherein: the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor; and the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe section in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end, from an initial height closest to the center conductor to a final height furthest away from the center conductor, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tapered probe is varied such that the trough becomes continuously wider along the probe length in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end.
 26. The probe of claim 22, wherein the tapered probe section comprises one of a triangular taper shape, an exponential taper shape or a Klopfenstein taper shape.
 27. A slab line impedance tuner system operable over a frequency bandwidth, the tuner system comprising: a slab line transmission including opposed slab conductor planes and a center conductor disposed between the slab conductor planes; a probe; a probe carriage carrying the probe; a carriage drive system for moving the probe carriage in a longitudinal direction parallel to the center conductor; a probe drive system for moving the probe in a transverse direction relative to the center conductor to position the probe closer to or further away from the center conductor; and wherein the probe includes: a tapered probe section having a nominal length dimension along the longitudinal direction, wherein the taper is such that the characteristic impedance of the probe varies smoothly along the longitudinal direction from a first end of the probe section to a second end of the probe section; wherein the probe section is supported for movement along the center conductor and in a direction transverse to the center conductor; and wherein the length dimension of the probe section is sufficient to provide a desired characteristic impedance transformation for the frequency bandwidth, wherein the characteristic impedance of the tuner system is transformed continuously along the probe to intermediate impedance values to reach a target impedance value.
 28. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe section in a longitudinal direction from an initial height closest to the center conductor at the first end to a final height furthest away from the center conductor at the second end.
 29. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor and wherein the cross-sectional profile varies such that the trough becomes continuously wider along the probe length in a longitudinal direction from the first end of the probe to the second end of the probe.
 30. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein: the tapered probe section has a cross-sectional profile defining a trough configured to straddle the center conductor as the probe is moved transversely toward the center conductor; and the tapered probe section has a height relative to the center conductor which varies continuously along the probe section in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end, from an initial height closest to the center conductor to a final height furthest away from the center conductor, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tapered probe is varied such that the trough becomes continuously wider along the probe length in a longitudinal direction from the first end to the second end.
 30. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein the probe touches at least one of the opposed slab conductor planes.
 31. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein the probe does not touch the opposed slab conductor planes.
 32. The impedance tuner system of claim 27, wherein the tapered probe section comprises one of a triangular taper shape, an exponential taper shape or a Klopfenstein taper shape. 